Hypophosphorous
acid is the phosphorus oxo acid or hydroxy phosphine oxide,
with monobasic character. The term phosphinic acid is
for the descriptive presentation of derivatives or salts
which hydrogen atoms bound to
phosphorus are replaced by organic groups, called phosphinates. The term hypophosphite
is also used for any salt, ester or anion derived
from the name of hypophosphorous acid.
Hypophosphorous
acid is a low-melting point compound soluble in water.
It is a powerful reducing agent. Hypophosphorous
acid and its sodium salt (sodium hypophosphite)
are used as powerful reducing agents
in various field. (Hypophosphorous acid has an advantage of easy
implementation in solution.) They are used in: